At the former Hollywood Hills residence of singer D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, law enforcement officials testified on Wednesday, July 22nd, 2026, that they detected possible bloodstains—undetectable to the naked eye—on a green tarp, black rubber mats, and a crumpled inflatable pool with the scent of fresh laundry. These details emerged during the second day of a hearing to establish probable cause for Burke to stand trial for the murder and sexual abuse of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez.

Rivas Hernandez’s body was discovered last year in gruesome conditions inside a car registered to Burke. Prosecutors allege that Burke stabbed Rivas Hernandez to death at his Los Angeles home to prevent her from revealing the sexual nature of their relationship, which they claim threatened his rising career.

Burke has pleaded not guilty to charges including first-degree murder, lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14, and mutilation of human remains. His defense team maintains that he “was not the cause” of Rivas Hernandez’s death.

Financial records presented in court showed that from 2022 to 2025, Interscope Records paid Burke and related entities over $7.2 million, covering legal fees and a trust required by California law for underage entertainers.

During the hearing, prosecutors showed a photograph of Rivas Hernandez’s passport, which was found in January 2026 by a Caltrans employee in a dirt embankment off State Route 154 in Santa Barbara. California Highway Patrol officer Sean Buenrostro testified that upon recognizing the passport, he immediately notified dispatch.

After the court session concluded, Patrick Steinfeld, attorney for the Rivas Hernandez family, spoke to reporters outside the courthouse.

Sources